The Summit are not a ship that lack purpose, but at the moment they're unable to find the wind.
On a late Wednesday evening, the Denver Summit lost to the North Carolina Courage 2-0 in their second match over four day span.
A group that seemed dangerous in moments, the Summit attack once again lacked bite. They found chances fairly frequently, but any that escalated into the danger zone were either handled or turned aside by Courage goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
The loss sees Denver continuing to lose ground in the chase for the NWSL playoffs, though they remain in 11th place with 20 points this season.
The first big shock of the night came when the Summit took the field for the first time to begin pre-game warmups ... without captain Lindsey Heaps.
Heaps not only wasn't in Nick Cushing's starting XI, she wasn't on the team sheet at all.
After the loss, Cushing told Denver7 that Heaps was in the lineup when she turned up to the facility for the game - but due to newfound swelling in her leg she was unable to participate.
"She went to see the doctor and the doctor pulled her from the game," Cushing said. "Lindsey's health and wellbeing and being fit to play is more important than one game of football."
"She's a massive player for us, she brings a lot to the team," added Tash Flint, who perhaps had the Summit's best chance at goal when a curling effort bent just wide of the post. "A last-minute change to not have Lindsey in the team was tough for us but we have a team that can come together and still continue to go forward and build on what we've been building."
In lieu of their midfield maestro, Cushing inserted Japanese international Yuzuki Yamamoto into the starting lineup for the second time this season.
The first half was played to a 0-0 deadlock but wasn't without entertainment. Abby Smith was called into action in the 27th minute to make a diving save on a curling effort from 18-year-old Èrica Parkinson. Towards the end of the first 45 a flurry of action from the Summit resulted in a few dangerous opportunities, but as I've written far too often this season none of those chances found their way into the back of the net.
Early in the second half another increasingly wearing Summit trope reared its ugly head when Eva Gaetino brought down North Carolina's Ashley Sanchez in the penalty box. The referee chose not to review the call using VAR, and instead Riley Jackson drove a shot past Smith to give the Courage a lead in the 48th minute.
Cushing emptied his bench searching for offensive answers - Ally Brazier, Yuna McCormack, Emma Regan, and Olivia Thomas all entered the fray to attempt to turn momentum in Denver's favor.
However, in the 81st minute, Colorado native Ally Schlegel broke away from the Summit defense and beat Smith for North Carolina's second goal.
As she celebrated with her family in front of the east grandstand, Denver's comeback attempt came to a close.
Frustration is a funny thing - it can fuel and push to greatness, or it can erode and destroy what you've worked tirelessly to build. It seems, at this point, the Summit aren't allowing the latter to happen.
"I think the team know that they have to just continue to work," said Cushing. "One thing I'm proud about this group is they've always bonded, come together, and tried to take ownership and responsibility."
"We love playing here," Cushing added. "We want to deliver wins and we want to deliver goals. When that doesn't happen the team shows a real determination to put that right."
The Summit will complete their gauntlet of three matches in seven days on Saturday, when they face the Utah Royals at Centennial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00pm.
August 2026
September 2026
October 2026
November 2026
** game played at DICK's Sporting Goods Park
other home matches scheduled to be played at Centennial Stadium